FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

AFRICAN CHOIR OF NORFOLK (UK) African Choir MUSIC

Experience the power of African music. A vibrant, unique choir featuring songs from 16 African nations. Crossing borders, harmonising traditions and celebrating the rich tapestry of culture in Africa.

PITCH: 1 Sat: 9pm | 50mins

In collaboration with:

AMOUKANAMA (PG/BE)

Amoukanama Travels!

Acrobatics

Let us dream together and fly across boundaries with flips, somersaults, human pyramids and dance. This whirlwind, energetic performance has rhythms so contagious you might want to join in!

Various Pitches

Sat: 9pm (Pitch 1) 50 mins

Special performance with African Choir of Norfolk

Sun: 1.40pm (Pitch 1), 2.40pm (Pitch 16) & & 3.45pm (Pitch 16)

20 mins

Spotlight on Flanders is a project of Circuscentrum, funded by VLAIO (Brexit Adjustment Reserve) with the aim to invest in long-term cooperation between Flanders and the UK in the circus field.

CAT & MOUSE

THEATRE (UK)

Blockbuster Factory

WALKABOUT | COMEDY

The great American Movie Director Martin Beilsperg, the great English actor Charles Bexley and Phil the AD are casting you to create the next heavyweight blockbuster for the silver screen. Join in as action heroes. sporting heroes, space battles, superheroes, dragons, detectives, submarines, train crashes and bananas – as in all film equipment, props and special fx are created with BANANAS.

PITCH WT

Sat & Sun: 2pm & 4.15pm 45mins

The Whale

INSTALLATION | PUPPETRY

Calling all bold explorers! Squeeze into the belly of an enormous inflatable Sperm Whale where you’ll find yourself in the depths of the bubbling, kelp-swirling ocean. Exquisite puppets, comedy and music abound – explore the tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish.

WHALE PITCH

(next to pitch 13)

Sun: 12pm, 12.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, 4pm & 4.30pm 30mins

Limited capacity inside the whale –please collect an entry ticket 10mins before show

CIRCO RUM BA BA (UK)

Bugs

WALKABOUT

Two lime green, four-legged, horned bugs, delight you as they creep and scuttle, chirruping eerily..

PITCH WP

Sat: 12pm, 2.40pm & 4.20pm 30mins

CIRCUS KATOEN (BE – FLANDERS)

Grasshoppers

CIRCUS

The ‘living’ green in the world has endured a lot. Over the course of mankind’s developing world, nature has really taken a few knocks. In Grasshoppers, two circus artists remove a piece of grass from its natural habitat, bringing it above ground using trestles, planks, rope and their bodies.

PITCH 20

Sat & Sun: 1.25pm & 4.10pm 45mins

Spotlight on Flanders is a project of Circuscentrum, funded by VLAIO (Brexit Adjustment Reserve) with the aim to invest in long-term cooperation between Flanders and the UK in the circus field.

COCOLOCO (UK/AUS)

World Premiere Shangri-LaLa

COMEDY | THEATRE

Shangri-LaLa promises the delights of heaven on earth. Should you pass the task of entering Shangri-LaLa you will then explore famous utopian ideas from Avalon to Xanadu, where their dreams might not be all they seem. A hilarious mashup of ludicrous promises and fatuous plans, experience the withering slabs of realism that the ideals of Utopianism fail to acknowledge.

PITCH: 2

Sat & Sun: 1pm & 3.30pm 90mins

Collectif Malun S

(BE – FLANDERS)

We Agree to Disagree

CIRCUS

Step into their territory and become actors in an interactive circus experience. Listen to your impulses, react to the rules, participate with the collective and build the performance so the show can begin! A playful show rife with Belgian humour, speaking to the absurdity of the current state of things. Help the artists fight conformity and make the seeds of change grow. Can you help find a way to live equally and in harmony?

PITCH 1

Sat & Sun: 5pm | 75mins

Out of the Box

CLOWNING

Impossible and implausible. Situations where a constant battle with physics comes to a head with a non-verbal clown. Out of the Box is a show of ever-raising stakes. A unique blend of world-class juggling, high-skill manipulation and TikTok trick shots.

PITCH: 15

Sat & Sun: 12.50pm & 3.15pm 45mins

DRILLAZ CIRCUS SCHOOL (UK)

World Premiere We Are Yarmouth

CIRCUS

The ever talented, ever creative, ever energetic Drillaz Circus School students own this town. The local young people have planted a flag and are claiming Great Yarmouth as the galactic capital of circus!

PITCH 8

Sat & Sun: 12.25pm & 4pm 30mins

OUT THERE ARTS SUPPORTED PRODUCTION

FRASER HOOPER (UK/NZ)

Funny Business CLOWNING

After a glittering career in menswear, Fraser Hooper gave it all up to become a clown. With a stunt duck and a human fish, witness the silliest boxing match you will ever see. Grab a ringside seat for a belly aching knockout performance from an international award-winning funny man.

PITCH 12

Sat & Sun: 1.05pm & 3.45pm 45mins

FROLICKED (UK)

The Alchemist

PUPPETRY

The Alchemist is a mediaeval man who desperately wants to make his name in modern science, while making a small fortune on the side. Unfortunately, due to yet another dangerous attempt to make gold, his latest assistant has met a grisly end. A light-hearted and slightly slapstick puppet show for all ages.

PITCH: 7

Sat & Sun: 12pm, 1.40pm, 2.45pm & 4.35pm

20mins

Content warning: Loud bangs and smoke

HICKS & RUDKIN (UK)

World Premiere

Tony & Ray Find Their Feet

THEATRE | DANCE

Two mature workmen steal the moment to indulge their passion in eccentric dance. As they collaborate and seek to outdo each other, their mobile tool cart reveals a number of surprises…

ICHI (JP) ICHI MUSIC

ICHI from Nagoya, Japan takes the notion of a one-man band to new limits, combining his quirky handmade instrument inventions. Ranging from Stiltbass, Kalilaphone, Balloonpipes, Hatbox-pedal-drum, Tapumpet, Percussion-shoes & Hat Trick-hat with steel-drum, ping-pong balls, typewriter, toys & everyday objects.

PITCH 3

Sat & Sun: 12pm & 3.10pm 50mins

ICHI (JP)

Tobogan Gakki INSTALLATION

Inspired by the traditional Czech toy, ICHI builds a moving and mechanical installation, Tobogan Gakki recycled from unwanted objects.

PITCH

Sat & Sun: 12-5pm | 5hrs

INVERTED (UK)

The Precious Thing

CIRCUS | THEATRE

Two artists have two things to do: fish for food and look after their one treasured possession, trying to keep it alive using water. Juggling, hand-balancing contortion, clowning and puppetry, The Precious Thing pulls you into their world as it slowly turns purple.

PITCH 19

Sat & Sun: 12pm & 2.15pm 30mins

OUT THERE ARTS SUPPORTED PRODUCTION

JACK IN A BOX ENTERTAINMENT (UK)

Professor Patel’s Bollywood Punjeet & Judygee Show

The Bollywood Punjeet and Judygee show!

THEATRE | PUPPETRY

Follow the trials of Punjeet as he tries to be a good husband and father, failing miserably in this imaginative modern day twist on the traditional Punch and Judy. Featuring a colourful cast of characters including Boris, The Clown from London Town and Dr Signh Who Makes You Go Ping.

PITCH 3 Sat & Sun: 1pm, 2.30pm & 4.10pm 30mins

Content warning: slapstick violence

JONES & BARNARD (UK)

What Price Dignity

COMEDY | THEATRE

Exploring public perceptions of the current social climate – credit crunch, heating bills and recession takes the form of a comedy performance with lots of volunteer engagement. A chance to win prizes and glory!

PITCH 6

Sat & Sun: 1.40pm & 3.50pm 40mins

OUT THERE ARTS SUPPORTED PRODUCTION

(DK) One Man Band

KARL STETS

L’ARBE À VACHE (FR)

MUSIC

Classic melodies and new material are mistreated by a character obsessed with playing everything simultaneously. In a fight to succeed, it seems obvious that sometimes the instruments will emerge victorious.

PITCH 6

Sat & Sun: 3.10pm

30mins

Catch them again in Oktopus Orkestars (p21).

UK Premiere Goodbye Persil

THEATRE

Two brothers on a suspicious mission. They’re off to bury their dog. They will need the utmost discretion, skill and complicity to pull this off. Join two crooks in a hymn to brotherhood, to games, to the stories we make up, and above all, to life!

PITCH 18

Sat & Sun: 12.35pm & 3.20pm 45mins